Listen to law enforcement officials, revisit Castle Doctrine

In the 2009 Legislature, lawmakers considered and then passed House Bill 228, the Castle Doctrine, allowing Montanans to defend their lives and liberties in their home, and that the use of firearms for self-defense is recognized within that right.

Previously, a person was required to retreat from a threat or summon law enforcement before they could legally use force to protect themselves. The revision eliminated that requirement and included other changes that make it easier to legally kill someone in self-defense.

Before the law passed, if a homeowner shot and killed an intruder, he or she might have been arrested and then required to claim self-defense at trial or in negotiations with prosecutors.

On June 9, 2009 Clay Dunbar shot Keith Peterson twice through a closed door that led from Dunbar’s garage into Dunbar’s home near Vaughn. Peterson was killed.

1. Bat shit crazy

So if my family is upstairs sleeping and two men bust through the door do I ask them politely to wait while I get my family out of bed and out of the house. Perhaps I can put a pot of coffee on for them while they wait. Or do I ask the intruders to give me a minute to get my phone so I can call 911? Is that what we should do?
If and intruder breaks into my home while my family is present I promise I will ruin his fucking weekend castle doctrine or not.

2. Castle Doctrine often does not cover shooting through a closed door.

Specifics may vary from state to state.

Castle Doctrine does cover shooting an intruder who has illegally forced his way INSIDE your residence. You are not required to ask his intentions or if he is armed or not, nor do you have to leave your home. You are allowed to assume that he has deadly intent and to defend yourself and your family with deadly force, once he is inside. If he is outside, you probably won't be covered by Castle Doctrine, but it may still be self-defense, depending upon circumstances.

4. Very doubtful this will go through

5. The guy has survived two trials by jury.

Listen to juries.

Some interesting facts I picked up from the testimony:

Despite having a key nearby, Dunbar broke the glass on his gun case to get at his loaded firearm. This would indicate some sense of urgency on the part of Dunbar. Why would that be? Perhaps he felt he was in imminent danger?

Dunbar and Peterson had been in a fight in Dunbar's house. Peterson left the home, then came back and entered Dunbar's garage, where he was shot through the door from the garage into the home.